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Mayor orders fire chief to keep quiet on budget

Omaha's mayor says she has provided the fire chief "numerous, reasonable written requests and directives" in an effort to make the department more transparent and accountable.

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Updated: 5:51 PM CDT Jun 26, 2013

Mayor orders fire chief to keep quiet on budget

Omaha's mayor says she has provided the fire chief "numerous, reasonable written requests and directives" in an effort to make the department more transparent and accountable.

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Updated: 5:51 PM CDT Jun 26, 2013

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WEBVTT THERE'S A NEW BUDGET SHOWDOWN UNFOLDING AS WE SPEAK AT OMAHA CITY HALL. HIGH STAKES DRAMA BETWEEN THE OMAHA FIRE DEPARTMENT AND MAYOR JEAN STOTHERT! TODAY -- THE MAYOR IS ORDERING THE FIRE CHIEF TO KEEP QUIET ON THE FIRE DEPARTMENT BUDGET. BUT CHIEF MIKE MCDONNELL IS TAKING A STAND ANYWAY. THIS IS A LIVE LOOK AT THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.. FIRE CHIEF MCDONNELL IS THERE RIGHT NOW JUST MINUTES AGO, CHIEF MIKE MCDONNELL WALKED IN CARRYING A BOX. IT'S CHOCK FULL OF áALL KINDS OF PAPERWORK. áTHIS -- IN RESPONSE TO A LAUNDRY LIST OF REQUESTS STOTHERT HAD ASKED OF HIM EARLIER THIS WEEK. SPECIFICALLY, LISTS OF áALL FIRE DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES -- SUCH AS WHY THEY WERE HIRED.. HOW THEY'RE RELATED TO OTHER FIREFIGHTERS..WHEN AND WHY THEY WERE PROMOTED. ALSO, LISTS OF ALL BUDGET ITEMS -- REQUIRED AND NOT REQUIRED BY CONTRACT. STOTHERT ALSO DIRECTED THE CHIEF AND HIS STAFF TO NOT RE-ASSIGN FIREFIGHTERS WITHOUT NOTICE AND APPROVAL BY HER. THAT INCLUDES PROMOTIONS. AND SHE DIRECTED THEM NOT TO áBUY ANYTHING -- INCLUDING EQUIPMENT -- WITHOUT GETTING APPROVAL FROM HER EITHER! AND HERE'S THE BIG ONE -- STOTHERT SAYS THE CHIEF áCANNOT TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET AND ITS IMPACT ON PUBLIC SAFETY -- IT HAS TO GO THROUGH HER.(steve leclair, Omaha professional firefighters assoc.They really are contractional obligations on part of the city... And mayors office) THE CHIEF DID OR DID NOT SPEAK WITH US ---- THE MAYOR'S OFFICE SAYS THIS WILL áNOT SPEAK ON-CAMERA ABOUT THIS BUT THEY DID SENT US A STATEMENT, WHICH IN PART SAYS: "the fire department has been over budget by 30 million dollars over the past five years.as mayor, i am seeking information from and providing direction to omaha fire department management so we can fix their budget after years of overspending and financial mismanagement."

Mayor orders fire chief to keep quiet on budget

Omaha's mayor says she has provided the fire chief "numerous, reasonable written requests and directives" in an effort to make the department more transparent and accountable.